8 



the science and practice of Horticulture^ and of in- 

 troducing into the State^ new species and varieties 

 of trees^ fruits^ plants^ vegetables and flowers.' 



The first annual exhibition was held in June^ 1833^ 

 and at this^ its sixth anniversary^ it presents to the 

 public the most cheering evidences of its beneficial 

 and successful progress: — To an increased list of 

 members, it has added and united by its own attrac- 

 tive pursuits, many of our admired and spirited 

 townswomen, whose zeal and devotion have already 

 imparted a charm and impulse to the Society not to 

 be resisted by the most selfish and obdurate Bene- 

 dict or misanthrope ; while, apart from these attrac- 

 tions and resources, it is now giving life and energy 

 to innumerable cultivators of the soil, by awarding 

 weekly and annual premiums to the most enterprising 

 and successful among them, and thereby affording to 

 industry and taste a stimulus, and to Horticulture, a 

 prominent place among the sister arts—indeed the 

 present exhibition of flowers alone, might challenge 

 competition in our country, while the rapid improve- 

 ments manifested in the culture of fruits and vege- 

 tables since the Society's foundation, will speak its 

 best eulogy : and the regret must now arise that, in 

 this our Baltimore, distinguished for the beauty and 

 moral loveliness of her daughters, and the valour 

 and public spirit of her sons, so many years should 

 have been suffered to elapse in which the culture of 

 the garden and the husbandry of the field (taught 



